Protests erupt vs China’s ‘mega embassy’ in UK
LONDON—Britain’s main opposition leader joined a protest on Saturday against China’s planned new embassy in London, days before a deadline for the government to approve or block the project.
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch urged the Labour government to reject the plans, saying the Chinese government had “harassed and sanctioned” members of parliament and “abused British nationals connected to China.”
“We know that we have to stand up to the abuses of China. And what worries me is that we have a government right now that seems to be scared of China,” she told hundreds of demonstrators who gathered at the site, chanting “no China mega embassy.”
Politicians from several opposition parties addressed the rally.
After years of delays and legal challenges, the government has set a deadline on Tuesday to decide whether to approve plans for the largest Chinese embassy in Europe on the former site of the Royal Mint, near Tower Bridge. It is widely expected to greenlight the development.
